Wilkes-Barre shuts down rental property under new ordinance

Mayor Tom Leighton and city inspector Frank Kratz post a notification sign on the front door of 216 Carlisle St., where police said they found crack cocaine, drug dealing paraphernalia and cash believed to be drug proceeds during a raid early Wednesday morning. Mark Moran / The Citizens' Voice

A notification sign on the front door of 216 Carlisle St., where police said they found crack cocaine, drug dealing paraphernalia and cash believed to be drug proceeds during a raid early Wednesday morning. Mark Moran / The Citizens' Voice

A notification sign on the front door of 216 Carlisle St., where police said they found crack cocaine, drug dealing paraphernalia and cash believed to be drug proceeds during a raid early Wednesday morning. Mark Moran / The Citizens' Voice

The City of Wilkes-Barre enforced its new "one-strike" ordinance for the first time Friday, less than two weeks after enacting the law that allows it to shut down properties that are the sites of drug or weapons violations.

An inspector, accompanied by Mayor Tom Leighton, taped a notification sign on the front door of 216 Carlisle St., where police said they found crack cocaine, drug dealing paraphernalia and cash believed to be drug proceeds during a raid early Wednesday morning.

The ordinance states the owner cannot rent out the property for six months.

The owner of the property is outraged, saying he had no way of knowing his tenant was selling drugs. He said he plans to exercise his right to appeal the city's decision.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Citizens' Voice.

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